'Red tape busting review' of planning systems launched by government

A new 'red tape busting review' to weed out bureaucratic hurdles and create a more efficient planning service for the public and business has been launched by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, Business Secretary John Hutton and Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint.

The review, 'Planning Applications: a faster and more responsive system', aims to remove bottlenecks and create a more efficient system.
Some of the issues in the current system that could be addressed include:

Unnecessary duplication of paperwork in the application process. One part of a planning application for a housing development, for example, needed 24 copies of every single page, requiring a fork lift truck to deliver a dozen boxes.
Delays occurring even after permission has been granted because pre-build conditions like construction schedules and legal steps are not being resolved quickly. One London application took 15 months after approval in principle to agree conditions.
Councils making better use of technology like the internet to notify people about planning applications, in addition to more traditional ways of telling the public such as in libraries and on notice boards.

The review will be carried out by Joanna Killian, the chief executive of Essex County Council and David Pretty, former group chief executive of Barratt Developments.

Ministers have stressed that the review will make recommendations for improving the process but should not shift the balance of decision making, weaken important safeguards or reduce public consultation.

The Royal Town Planning Institute voiced concern that the initiative might emphasise speed rather than quality of decision.

RTPI policy director Rynd Smith said: 'It is important that decisions are made promptly but the planning system should be judged by the quality of its outcomes not just the speed with which those outcomes are delivered.

In her speech the secretary of state also called for more public involvement in development plans, particularly at the sub-regional level, and less use of jargon by planners. She warned that 'space shaping, plan making and spatial dimension' were phrases which risked sending people to sleep.

Major reform to the planning system is already underway to give communities a greater say in a faster decision making process for large infrastructure projects. This review will look at the next challenge of improving the planning application process from start to finish to make it even more user friendly.

Local authorities have significantly improved their speed at handling applications, with 75 per cent meeting their performance targets, up from 25 per cent in 2001. However, there are still slow and cumbersome parts of the process that the Government wants to tackle, from unnecessary paperwork to delays after permission has been granted.

New investment to empower local people to use the planning system to shape their communities is also being announced today. Planning Aid funding is being doubled to £3.2 million this year, to enable more people to benefit from free independent advice to help them comment on proposals, make representations at inquiries, or submit a good planning application.

Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears said: 'The planning system is how we shape our future and we want to make it greener, more efficient and more empowering for local communities. Good progress is being made but we want to create a more user friendly system. This is another important step in our ambitious programme to ease the burden of regulation in the private, public and third sectors.'

The study will report to Caroline Flint and Baroness Vadera. It will specifically:

• Examine various case studies to see where bottlenecks and delays occur and explore with stakeholders, such as local authorities, how the application process can be improved. For example by improving the pre and post application phases we can free up councils to consider the next case sooner.
• Look at how technology such as e-planning can improve the process for people and planners. For example using modern methods, like the internet, may be the best way to notify the public of development in some circumstances.
• Look at how a more proportionate system could better reflect the impact of a development. For example instead of a 'one size fits all' requirement for the supporting material needed with an application it will look at how a more tailored system might be better.
• Consider how statutory consultees like Highways Agency, Environment Agency and Natural England engage sooner with the application process.

The Review team can be contacted at: reviewofplanningapplicationprocess@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Planning Aid provides free advice to all callers and more detailed to eligible individuals and groups. It has been at the forefront of engaging and giving an equal voice to all those involved in planning. It specifically helps those on benefits, pensioners, or people whose household income is low. It also provides planning advice to small charities, voluntary and community groups, and tenants' organisations with limited funds or free reserves; Social enterprises and other not-for-profit businesses.

Each Region in the UK has an outreach programme of 'Community Planning', which identifies groups who have previously been excluded from the planning system or are disadvantaged from years of not 'having a voice'. The Community Planning programme works with these groups to develop their ability to understand their opportunities and rights within the planning system. Planning Aid also helps them find the right channels to communicate their views better. Planning Aid services can be contacted at info@planningaid.rtpi.org.uk